We were a group of 5 and we spent 5 days for trekking Poon Hill from 1st to 5th of Jan, 2015.
The Total Expense
Each of us spent $20.42 per day. Or $102.1 for the total trip per person from Pokhara (Nepal).
Transportation ($7.7):
The major cost is to get to Kimche or Hille (where you start trekking) from Pokhara. We took a taxi to the bus station (a short ride but it cost us Rs.300 per taxi and we hired 2 taxis). And then the bus to Kimche was Rs.1540 for 7 people (Rs.210) each person.
On our way back we took a jeep from Hille and then a bus back to Pokhara. The jeep cost Rs.1800 for 7 people (5 foreigners and 2 locals), and the bus cost Rs.910 (Rs.130 each person). And we must have got a taxi back to where we stayed, and it’d be Rs.300 per taxi.
Accommodation ($4.8):
Surprisingly, the tea houses are lovely and cheap. It’s a great thing to be able to stay under a roof. The tea house owners charge a premium on food so accommodation is cheap. I don’t understand the logic, but well, if you don’t plan to eat in the tea house where you stay, then you will have to pay for a different rent. We were a group of 5 with 2 porters. You don’t need to pay for food or accommodation for your porters (which is odd and amazing). In average each of us paid Rs.100-150 per night. Hot shower is Rs.150 extra.
Food ($33.6):
Everything cost money in Poon Hill. A cup of males tea costs Rs.100 (when it’s Rs.20 in the rest of Nepal). But keep in mind everything is carried by donkeys or porters to the mountain. And it is not expensive when you covert the currency (it’s only $1 and you get to sit next to a warm heater!) And the surrounding view is just amazing. Food is not yummy most of the time. For a girl, $6-7 is sufficient. For a big guy, I’d say $9-$10 per day. (We were a group of 5, 3 of us were small eaters and 2 were big eaters).
Entertainment ($30):
We paid $10 for our blue TIMS passport and $20 for our permit. If you don’t have a porter, then you’d pay for a green TIMS passport for $20.
Other ($26):
We got two porters. Generally you’d pay $10-$15 for each porter and they’d carry unto 15kg. We paid $13. We didn’t bargain (we only asked for good looking porters) as the price was reasonable. You can do this trip without a porter.
I’ve put a few scenarios, see which one applies on you:
1) 5 days, 5 people with 2 porters (Blue Passport) =$102
2) 5 days, 5 people with 0 porters (Green Passport) =$84
If we didn’t get any porter, we wouldn’t have the following expenses: 1. Transportation (Rs.680+Rs.300)=$10 2. Porter charges $130. Total=$140. But we’d need to pay $50 for the green passport. It means we’d save 140-50=$90. (and that’s $18 less)
3) 5 days, 4 people with 0 porters (Green Passport) =$83
You’d get 1 taxi instead of 2 taxis. As taxi costs (both ways) were Rs.1200 shared by 5 (Rs.240 each), if you are 4 that’s Rs. 600 shared by 4 (Rs.150 each).
4) 4 days, 4 people with 0 porters (Green Passport) =$75
You can actually do Poon Hill in 4 days if you are fit. Some people even do it in 3 days! (Wow!) Minus a day’s accommodation and food for $8, here comes your new budget. $75 for 4 days!
5) 4 days, 4 people with 1 porters (Blue Passport) =$75+$3.6=$78.6
Even if you get just 1 porter, you can get a Green passport. So the new expenses are 1. Transportation (Rs.340+Rs.300)=$6.4 2. Porter charges $52. Total=$58.4. But you’d save $50 for the green passport. It means you’d pay $8.4 for getting a porter for 4 days (that’s $2.1 for each person). And taxi fare becomes Rs.1200 shared by 4 (Rs.300 each). So $2.1+$1.5 =$3.6.
I think you can consider Option 5 over Option 4. Just like in my logic it didn’t make sense why accommodation was cheap and food was a bit pricey, it doesn’t make sense why you’d pay for $10 instead of $20 for your TIMS if you go as a group. But see, if you go for Option 5, you provide a job opportunity for your porter. So it’s up to you if you want to contribute to Nepal’s government or a Nepali agency. It’s totally up to you.
6) 4 days, 2 people with 0 porters (Green Passport) =$76.5
You’d add $1.5 for taxi supplement.
7) 4 days, 2 people with 1 porters (Blue Passport) =$76.5+$19.2 = $95.7
Just like (5) above. Porter cost and transportation for 4 days is $58.4. Saving from getting a Blue TIMS passport is $20. $58.4-$20 = $38.4 This cost is to be shared by 2 people and that’s $19.2.
8) 5 days, 2 people with 1 porters (Blue Passport) =$103.7
Just add $8 for food and accommodation.
I hope this helps!
Traveling Mega
